1. Go Mobile
Consumers are reaching for their smart phones and tablets to access social media sites these days. In fact, the time spent on mobile websites and mobile apps went up by 63% since last year.
Bottom Line: This is a trend that's not going anywhere. Mobile use will continue to rise as smart phones and tablets are getting more sophisticated by the minute. As a marketer, you need to put mobile social media presence on the very top of your list. Start by making sure your website is mobile friendly, using SMS and MMS to connect with your customers, and building your own app (sites such as Mippin, MobiCart, and ShoutEm are great!).
2. Use Social Care Along With Traditional Customer Care
Social Care refers to companies using their social media platforms to provide various customer services. This may sound strange, however, the study found that one in three social media users prefer using Social Care channels rather than communicating with a business by phone. Users can connect with a company in a variety of ways such as commenting on their Facebook Business Page (29%), tagging the company in a post on their own Facebook Profile (28%), on official company blogs (15%) on their own Twitter page (14%), and by mentioning the company's Twitter handle in a post (13%).
3. Utilize Pinterest
Since its launch in 2011, Pinterest has experienced exponential growth that shows no signs of stopping. The study found that Pinterest had the highest increase in audience and time spent on PC, mobile web and apps than any other social media platform.
Bottom Line: Everyone knows you have to make a product look sexy in order to make it marketable. Pinterest thrives off of eye catching images with captions that tell consumers just how much they need to have the said item in their life, so be sure to take the time to photograph your product in an artistic way in order to make your Pinterest and Website much more appealing.
4. Your Customers are Paying Attention through Social Listening
Everyday, consumers use social media to listen and learn about companies. They pay attention to others' experiences (70%), look for more information about brands, products and services (65%), and compliment brands (53%).
Bottom Line: Researchers and marketing professionals aren't the only ones participating in social listening anymore. This means that every post, tweet, and social media mention you receive is important, and it's your job to put the most informative, helpful content out there to uphold a positive reputation and to show your customers you really care.
5. You Can Promote Positive Feelings with Social Media
Contrary to popular belief, the survey found that 76% of their participants experienced positive feelings after while social networking. Excited, informed, amused, and connected were some of the words they used to describe this positive energy. Unfortunately, 21% of those surveyed said social networking made them overwhelmed and anxious. The other 24% remained neutral.
Bottom Line: By participating in social media, you open yourself and your company up to a whole new world of feedback. Some of the feedback will be encouraging, and some.. Not so much. Take every comment and review with a grain of salt, and use them as a way of seeing what works and what doesn't from your customers' point of view.
For more information on how to take your social media marketing to the next level,
contact Social Fox Media today.
